Below is some information that can be found in our Student Handbook. It is also available for further reading here.

Admissions Information

Admissions at TAHS begins with an initial consultation outlining your goals and time period in which you
are able to complete your intensive English program. This information will be recorded to help TAHS English Institute (EI) uniquely prepare you for daily-use and higher education in the United States- be it general use,
undergraduate, graduate, post-graduate study, or professional advancement.
When making its determination, the Institute will review all parts of your application for completeness. As
part of this process, the Institute may require you to submit biographical and other information,
including references that are kept secure and are only available to the EI Director and Assistant
Academic Director.
Applicants are considered for admission without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age (16 years or older),
disability, ethnicity, marital status, genetic information, sexual orientation, national origin or veteran’s
status.
The Institute reserves the right to deny readmission to students who violate academic integrity and/or
failed to make academic progress as outlined in the Institute’s catalog or when it is deemed in the best
interest of the Institute or the applicant to do so. Students looking for readmission may be required to
prove that he/she is academically and emotionally prepared to pursue intensive English study prior to
enrollment.

Required and Optional Services

Required Services

The following services are included as a part of your tuition and fees:

  • Student Progress Report
    • You will receive a regular progress report that will notify you of your progress.
      • Full-time students will receive a report at the end of each semester
      • Part-time students will receive reports at varying times depending on their program.
    • Progress reports will indicate if you have made satisfactory progress on your assessments and provide you with an explanation of your progress.
      • You may request to discuss your progress report with the academic manager or your teachers by scheduling an appointment with the manager or teacher(s).
  • Mock Test and Test Report
    • EI students are encouraged to take ETS mock tests (TPO). You will receive a registration form to take a TPO test that includes an $80 fee to take a full test (4 hours) which includes the test result and teacher’s feedback. Please register for the mock test with the office manager at the front desk along with the test fee 2 weeks in advance.
    • Test reports will be issued within 3 business days of the test date.
  • ETS TOEFL Registration
    • The English Institute can register students who attend classes at the English Institute for the official ETS TOEFL iBT test, taken at our location (30 JFK Street, 3rd Floor site-code: STN#13223A).
    • The English Institute does not pay for your official test fee.
    • Check with the office manager for the most-up-to-date information on when TOEFL tests are held at our location.
    • You may inquire about available seats up to two weeks before the official test-date. Registration is first-come-first-serve basis.
    • The free registration service expires three months after you exit the English institute’s academic English program.
    • TAHS is not responsible for any misprocessing that may be caused by the student or ETS.
  • Academic Consultation
    • You may request to speak to the EI Director in-person about any academic issues, concerns, or accomplishments. Simply schedule an appointment at the front desk.
    • EI does not provide personal advising at any time.
  • Immigration Advising
    • You may request to speak to the international student advisor in-person about your stay, health, any academic issues or concerns that may affect your immigration status. Simply schedule an appointment at the front desk with the advisor.

Optional Services

The following services are not included in your tuition but can be purchased at your desire:

  • Additional practice tests ($80.00/test)
    • Additional tests must be scheduled at least one week before the date requested. The office manager will do his/her best to accommodate all date requests.
  • Directions for seeking advice for additional immigration, personal counseling, or other needs (free of charge).
    • Only includes official and appropriate websites, university offices, transportation, and hospitals.

Pre-arrival Preparation & Orientation

Pre-arrival

Before you begin your orientation, you receive pre-arrival preparation. Your pre-arrival preparation includes reviewing the enrollment terms and conditions, immigration rules and regulations, and basic understanding of EI events and activities (academic and non-academic).

If you are in the Cambridge, MA area you may take your placement test earlier and complete orientation.

Orientation

  • Orientation is conducted no later than one week before the start of classes. You are required to take your placement test at this stage.
  • You receive a review of information that was covered in the pre-arrival orientation and are given the opportunity to ask additional questions about the EI curriculum, immigration, classes, activities, and facilities.
  • You receive your confirmed schedule and a quick tutorial of TutorPanel.com (TAHS EI scheduling website).
  • During orientation, you receive a breakdown of goals for each course/level, and what you and the Institute should expect to achieve together. You receive a walking tour of the facilities, rules and regulations about the use of facilities, policies on progress & completion, and code of conduct.

Throughout the Academic Program

Every four to six weeks you will be reminded of your individual academic goals. You will be invited to attend optional neighborhood and cultural events including campus visits, special lectures, and holiday activities.

Attendance

All F-1 students must be familiar with US immigration rules and regulations related to attendance. The DSO is required to report a student to the US government if the student breaks the TAHS EI attendance policy:

If you are enrolled in a group class, the class hour or make-up class times cannot be adjusted. Students must maintain a 90% attendance rate in each course (missing up to 6 days or 11 classes per semester). Students will be required to present a doctor’s note or equivalent to have an excused absence. If they do not meet this attendance requirement, they may need to take supplemental 1:1 courses for an additional charge if they miss a large part of the session or repeat the course. F-1 student visa status may be revoked if you do not follow this policy.

If you are enrolled in a 1:1 class, you must notify the enrollment manager no later than 1 week in advance of your request. A verbal notice should be supplemented with a written notice by paper or email. If you are a no-show or make a last-minute cancelation (within 1-4 days of the scheduled class), you will lose your credit hours. If you are absent for longer than 4 weeks, one class per 4 absent weeks is subtracted from your reserved number of classes as a maintenance fee. Students who have more than three unexcused absences may be put on academic probation or removed from the program. If a student is absent as a result of medical or other serious issues, missed classes may be considered for rescheduling.

Student Progress and Completion

You are informed of your progress and completion in courses and your progress from level to level through a final progress report. This progress report is produced at the end of each semester (12 weeks) for full-time students. During the course, you get feedback from the teacher through completed assignments and assessments.

Intensive English program:

Over a period of 12 weeks (session A) or 6 weeks (session B), level 1-2 students must achieve a minimum average of 70% on their formative and summative assessments (e.g. quizzes, midterm, and final) in all three core courses, while level 3-4 students must achieve 70% on their assessments in three out of four core courses to progress into the next level. However, the student needs to be within a 10% passing rate of 70% (60% or more) in the course he/she failed. If a student starts at week 7 of 12 (session B) and passes 1 quiz and the final, he/she is permitted to progress into the next level. If either student type (Session A or Session B student) fails (scoring below 70% total average) then he/she must repeat the level starting at week 1 of 12. A student is allowed to repeat the course 3 times within 1 academic year.

Students are also able to inquire about their results at any time through email with the student achievement manager and EI director.

High unexplained absence rate in one course are grounds for academic probation or removal from the program. The student must provide medical documentation supporting his/her absences to be excused.

The program expects students entering level 1 to complete the program through level 4 in 15 months (five 12-week sessions). Students entering at Level 2 or higher are expected to complete one level in 12 weeks.

Considering the maximum number of times a level may be repeated, the maximum time in which students need to complete the full course of study is 45 months (fifteen 12-week sessions).

Appeals Process

If you disagree with any assessment grade that impacts your progression into the next level, you may appeal the course grades/promotion decisions in an Appeals Form available at the front desk. Attached to the form, you are required to present any proof you feel is appropriate to defend your change request. The administration will also do its part in reevaluating the results of a final assessment and analyze the teacher’s body of work defending his/her reasoning for the grade. You will receive a written response to your appeal within 1 week.

Placement Guide

TAHS EI has three semesters (Spring/Summer/Fall) and two enrollment periods each semester. Upon arrival at the TAHS English Institute, the student is required to take a placement test and is placed in one of the four levels of the intensive English Program. Depending on the date of enrollment, the student will begin in either Session A or Session B.

The level-to-level progress is determined when the student has achieved at least 70 percent of the student learning outcomes in all 3 courses in levels 1-2, and at least 70 percent in 3 skill areas (out of 4) in levels 3-4 based on the course assessments. The skill area below 70 percent in levels 3-4 also needs to be over 60 percent of the student learning outcome.

If a student fails, he/she must repeat the level starting at the beginning of the next semester (Session A), regardless of when they began their studies, session A or B.

Student Concerns and Complaints

As an EI student you have the opportunity to share your comments and concerns in three ways. The first way is informally with the teacher or manager through a verbal discussion; the second way is through an anonymous survey at the end of each course, rating their satisfaction of the entire program including questions about the teacher, course, and management system; and thirdly, through a formal complaint form located at the front desk with the student services manager.

EI aims to provide a fair, equitable and productive learning environment for all students. The process seeks to support the achievement of this goal by providing a transparent and consistent process for resolving grievances. Negotiated solutions will aim to address the key issues and be acceptable to all individuals or parties involved without ascribing blame, victimization or discrimination. Complainants will not suffer any disadvantage, victimization or discrimination as a result of raising a grievance, with minimum stress and maximum protection for all concerned.

Every employee and student has a responsibility to comply with this policy and to treat everyone who works at the English Institute with dignity and respect. Seeking redress of a trivial or vexatious issue through a grievance procedure will not be tolerated and may result in disciplinary action.

Definitions

  • Grievance: A wrong or hardship suffered (real or perceived), which is the grounds of a complaint.
  • Complaint: An expression of grievance, dissatisfaction or concern.
  • Victimize: To act or omit to act towards a person in a way which is intended to cause disadvantage to that person because they have made a complaint, or may make a complaint, or may be or are the subject of a complaint.

Rights and responsibilities:

  • All persons have the right to:
    • make a complaint to the student enrollment manager or EI Director
    • be treated with respect and impartiality and provided with support throughout the process
    • have the principles of natural justice and procedural fairness observed. This means:
      • complaints must be fully described by the person with the grievance
      • the person who is the subject of concern must be informed of all the allegations in relation to his/her behavior
      • the person who is the subject of concern must have a full opportunity to put forward their case
      • all parties to the complaint must have the right to be heard
      • all relevant submissions and evidence must be considered
      • irrelevant matters must not be taken into account
      • the decision-maker must be impartial, fair and just
      • investigations and proceedings that are conducted honestly, fairly and without bias
      • no undue delay in investigations and proceedings

It is the responsibility of all parties involved in a grievance to participate fully in the resolution process in good faith. Confidentiality must be respected and maintained at all times within the constraints of the need to fully investigate the matter, subject to any legal requirements for disclosure and consistent with the principles of natural justice.

Procedure

This is a two-level procedure.

  • Level 1
    • The student attempts to resolve the complaint with the teacher and EI Director as best as possible, generally by discussing the issue with the person(s) involved. This level is quite informal and verbal. If the matter is not resolved through this process, students should proceed to Level 2. Should the student not feel confident in discussing the matter, they should proceed immediately to Level 2.
  • Level 2
    • The student must fill out a formal complaint form available at the front desk. The Student Service Manager receives the form and acknowledges receipt immediately verbally and in written form. This form is then forwarded to the EI Director and CEO of the Academy at Harvard Square. The EI Director and CEO review the complaint and evidence. This process should not exceed one week. At this level the Student Service Manager schedules a meeting with the CEO and student to discuss the student’s complaints. The CEO holds a private and confidential meeting with the student in his office in which he allows the student to share his/her concerns and finds a mutually agreeable resolution. A complaint is resolved within two weeks of receiving the initial written complaint. Once the complaint is resolved, the Student Service Manager keeps a digital record of the complaint in a secure online Student Complaints Archive folder. Any paperwork associated with the complaint is also kept with the file.

Code of Conduct

The student shall be reminded of the code of conduct in the immigration rules and regulations (if applicable) and principles outlined below. Any violations of the principles below are grounds for termination of enrollment, denial for re-enrollment, and/or legal action.

  1. The student shall endeavor to be successful in the program by developing an exemplary life attitude and study skills. He/she is required to strive for high academic achievement under the supervision of a responsible manager of the Institute.
  2. The student shall maintain over 90% attendance rate from the English Institute and shall be responsible for completing his/her examinations and assignments on-time.
  3. The student shall maintain academic integrity and understand the repercussions of plagiarism in all work produced during the program.
  4. The student shall not speak or behave in a derogatory manner (e.g. theft, violence, abusive language, and bullying that harms a person physically and/or psychologically) against any Institute staff members and Institute students at any time during his/her academic study in the United States.
  5. The student shall always be aware of the safety and health regulations during the program and follow the instructions and guidelines of the TAHS English Institute for receiving proper healthcare.
  6. In the event of an emergency or a major concern affecting the student’s well-being or course of study, the student shall promptly notify the English Institute. In case of emergency at the English Institute in which the student is unable to resolve the emergency independently, the English Institute shall call emergency personnel or take the student to a hospital in close vicinity of the Institute at the expense of the student. The Institute shall not assume any liability related to the student’s treatment.
  7. The student shall manage all personal belongings, and be careful not to lose his/her belongings as a result of carelessness or reckless behavior. The Institute shall not be responsible for damaged or lost personal belongings.
  8. The student shall not bring prohibited items (drugs, firearms, pornography etc.). If the student is caught with prohibited items in possession, he/she shall be expelled from the academic program and handed over to law enforcement authorities.
  9. The student shall not use school supplies without permission from the Institute, or use personal property of others without permission.
  10. The student shall not damage public property or the facilities of the Institute. The student shall be solely responsible for the recovery of any damage to facilities caused by his/her conduct.
  11. A student in violation of U.S. law or local regulations resulting in criminal proceedings shall be removed from the program and may be denied re-admission.